Five-time World champion M C Mary Kom (51kg) pipped arch-rival Pinki Jangra to the India's women's squad, while World Championships bronze medallist Shiva Thapa (56kg) made the cut in a star-studded men's boxing team for the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in China from March 23.
The squad for the event, in the Chinese city of Qian'an, was picked after selection trials on March 7 and 8 in Patiala.
There were no surprises on offer in both squads and Mary Kom again got the selectors' nod over Pinki, who has emerged the strongest rival to the celebrated Manipuri, a bronze-medallist at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Asian Games bronze medallist L Sarita Devi (60kg) is the other prominent name in the three-member women's squad, which also features Pooja Rani (75kg).
The men's squad is on expected lines, with Shiva, who injured himself during the trials, getting the nod.
The 22-year-old, a former Asian champion, missed a qualification chance during last year's World Championships when he lost in the Olympic quota box-off after winning the bronze medal.
Commonwealth Games silver medallists L Devendro Singh (49kg) and Mandeep Jangra (69kg) are among the prominent contenders for a quota place along with Asian silver medallist Vikas Krishan (75kg).
The team is expected to leave for China on March 20, subject to acquiring Chinese visa in time, the AIBA ad-hoc committee administering boxing in India, said.
In all the weight categories, the top three men’s boxers and top two women will qualify for the Rio Olympics in August.
Thirty men's slots and six women's will be filled via these qualifiers.
The flip side for the Indians is that even if they qualify they could be barred from the Olympics if a new national federation does not take shape by the end of this month.
The squads:
Men: L Devendro Singh (49kg), Gaurav Bidhuri (52kg), Shiva Thapa (56kg), Dheeraj (60kg), Manoj Kumar (64kg), Mandeep Jangra (69kg), Vikas Krishan (75kg), Sumit Sangwan (81kg), Parveen Kumar (91kg), Satish Kumar (+91kg).
Women: M C Mary Kom (51kg), L Sarita Devi (60kg) and Pooja Rani (75kg).
Image: M C Mary Kom
Photograph: Harish Kotian/Rediff.com
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